Man pleads guilty in high-speed pursuit on the Midway

OROVILLE — A 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty for an Oct. 22 high-speed pursuit from Chico down the Midway.

Anthony Wade Holden pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony counts of possessing methamphetamine for sale, being a felon in possession of a firearm and evading an officer by driving against traffic, according to deputy district attorney Elizabeth Norton.

As part of the plea change in Butte County Superior Court, the prosecution sought to dismiss eight additional felony counts, including possessing and transporting marijuana for sale, transporting drugs, possessing a gun and ammunition, and false imprisonment by violence.

Norton said both sides also agreed to a middle-term sentence of four years in state prison.

The incident began at 8:25 p.m. when police attempted to stop Holden's vehicle at Boucher Street and Humboldt Avenue. The defendant reportedly failed to signal a turn and a brake light was out.

Holden refused to stop and blew through several stop signs. On the Midway, he reportedly turned off the vehicle's lights at one point and drove against traffic several times.

The defendant also reportedly went through an orchard in an attempt to elude officers. Once he returned to the road, he ran over a spike strip. Although his tires were damaged, he continued driving until his vehicle crashed into a fence.

There were two other people in Holden's vehicle during the pursuit, but he refused to stop to let them out.

"They could've easily been killed," Norton said.

Holden reportedly admitted that he fled because there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was on probation following a conviction for check forgery.

Norton said the defendant claimed he was delivering the meth to another party.